The Microbiology service provides specialist information and testing of microbial pathogens involved in a patient’s infectious disease process and assists with managing outbreaks of communicable diseases.

The Microbiology department encompasses:

The Bacteriology laboratory works on a 24/ 7 basis and offers a comprehensive range of services including specialist tuberculosis and sexual health testing, anaerobic and aerobic microbial testing and automated testing for blood borne infections like blood stream infections. Also included in this area are specialised parasitology and mycology laboratories.

The Virology/Serology section is one of the leading clinical virology diagnostic services in New Zealand, the primary focus being rapid virus diagnosis. A wide range of diagnostic assays are provided for internal, external and international clients and new tests are continually being introduced through the section’s research and development activities.

The Virology/Serology section performs routine and reference specialist testing for a wide range of virus and bacteria utilising molecular techniques such as PCR and viral load testing together with automated and manual serological techniques for antigen and antibody detection.

Virology/Serology as one of the leading laboratories of its kind in New Zealand is on the frontline for the WHO Influenza Surveillance in Canterbury and the West Coast and has been the World Health Organisation National Measles Reference Laboratory since 2005